asked the Minister of Defence whether, in view of the urgent need for coal, he will consider the release of experienced miners from Regular service in the Army, R.N. and R.A.F. who are desirous of re-entering the mining industry.

Every facility has been given to National Service men in the Forces who are ex-miners to obtain release in Class B in order to return to the mines. Miners have not been called up for service in the Forces for some years and they are not accepted for regular engagements. For all practical purposes, therefore, the only miners available in the Forces are those who enlisted voluntarily before the war in order to make the Forces their career. They can have no recent experience of mine work whereas their long experience in the Forces is of particular value at the present time.